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Leyland feels for former Reds skipper Baker

Leyland feels for former Reds skipper Baker

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By Jason Beck and Paul Hagen
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MLB.com |

OAKLAND -- When the Reds announced Friday that manager Dusty Baker wouldn't return next season, he had 1,671 career wins. Among men who held that position in the big leagues this year, only one had more victories: Jim Leyland with 1,769.

So it's not surprising that Leyland took the dismissal hard.

"We're a fraternity," Leyland said before Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Athletics. "He's a very good friend of mine. We go back a long way. We've competed against each other. He's a terrific manager, and I assume it's just like we fall into those situations sometimes where the general manager, maybe ownership, I don't know, they just feel that it's time for a change. That goes along with our territory.

"But, you know, certainly as managers, we think about that. I'm sorry to hear about it and I wish Dusty the best."

Leyland tried to call Baker after hearing the news, but "didn't make contact."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. Paul Hagen is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.